As the title suggests, this is a step-by-step portrait of the life-cycle of a car. Starting with “build the car” and closing with recycling the car to make a new one, the simple text focuses on what happens to the average vehicle from assembly-line manufacture to the crashing, towing, stripping and crushing that trigger the process to start over. In between, readers see a new car trucked to a dealership from which it is sold, driven, fueled, washed and repaired. The equally simple, but effective, torn-paper collage illustrations feature a double-page spread for each stage of the car’s life rendered in bright, child-friendly primary colors and flat shapes, with enough detail to intrigue the motor-minded. The busy interior scenes of the auto factory, with workers assembling, the garage with mechanics repairing and the shop with a crew disassembling, should appeal particularly to budding mechanics. A utilitarian foray into the wonderful world of the automobile that should satisfy the curious and provide just enough visuals to delight very young auto aficionados. (Picture book. 3-8)
